Apothecary Diaries 1x8 Reaction Extended (YT link below)
Added 2025-08-14 01:00:05 +0000 UTCIn Apothecary Diaries 1x8, Wheat Stalks, but who is selling all this poison? ---------------------------------------------------------------
In Apothecary Diaries 1x8, Wheat Stalks, but who is selling all this poison?
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Comments
The contracts were not intended f9rkidnappings basicly poor families could send their daughters to the palace if they cant aford to care for them The palace pay both the family and the girl a portion of the wage each Then after 2 years the firl can go home , leave or choos to stay and do another contract
demonic-myst
2025-08-29 20:10:03 +0000 UTCThe LN goes into it in more detail, but "womanizer" is a very understated way of depicting what he was actually doing? Like, they are prostitutes, they aren't killing him because he's sleeping around. He was claiming that he would buy out these women's contracts, and then dipping at the last moment. Someone buying their contract is like, literally, the only lifeline these courtesans/prostitutes have. It's the equivalent of claiming a cancer patient a cure for cancer, then going around and saying "sikes, just a prank" after they've spent years and years believing in you. Not to mention, depending on how high-class a courtesan is, sleeping with someone could actively lower their value and decrease their clientele. And the anime doesn't outright say this, but the courtesan the younger girl that fell victim to the merchant's son committed suicide after he pulled his usual shit and backed out of buying up her contract. The cherry on the cake is that like... The merchant's son has no real reason for doing this aside from maybe getting his rocks off. He's doing just so he can see the courtesans desperately serve him and worship him because he's promising a ticket to a better life. It's disgusting.
BirthdayParty
2025-08-20 06:27:14 +0000 UTCThe fact that the guy's "crime" was being a womanizer, and that supposedly justifies the girls attempting to kill him, is beyond me.
Arakis
2025-08-15 01:05:17 +0000 UTCRegarding the annex – I highly recommend rewatching that bit with your screen brightness turned up. There's something in the dark room with Maomao that I think we're supposed to see. (Unless you noticed but didn't comment on it, sorry.) I adore Lady Gyokuyou laughing at the end there. It's a little mean, maybe, but she's such a bright presence in the Rear Palace—I think because she embraces opportunities for joy, and she's unashamedly genuine, even in this uptight environment where image and appearance are paramount. (Yes, she has more privilege and protection than someone of Maomao's status and maybe can afford to be more genuine, but the stakes are still high for her too.)
ceryle
2025-08-14 15:59:23 +0000 UTCThe courtesan screwed up the murder by using tobacco instead of rhododendron... It's over because that loser will never go back to that pleasure house or that courtesan, so they won't get another chance to kill him. And they lived so it just looks like some kind of bizarre poisoning of the drinks by accident or by some unknown third party (since she also was a "victim"). This isn't the sort of place where police would investigate (whatever sort of police or security they have in the area). Intellectual curiosity aside, the situation is done and there's nothing else to do about it. For someone who grew up around women manipulating men with great mastery, Maomao is very willfully dense or in denial when it comes to Jinshi. She's a pro at leaving out the most important details of a situation, leaving everyone either confused, exasperated, or amused by all the misunderstandings she creates. Every time she thinks she doesn't want to get involved I think, "You keep using that word. I do not think it means what you think it means," in the voice of Inigo Montoya from The Princess Bride.
Serralinda
2025-08-14 07:45:32 +0000 UTCOh god isn't the opening song about becoming a flower?
Alex G
2025-08-14 03:15:50 +0000 UTCOh. One more random thought I've forgotten to say every week. The word for "pleasure district" in Japanese is 花街 'hana-machi' or literally "flower district." Other people already mentioned Demon Slayer, where Daki was represented by a plum blossom (sadly because 'plum poison' is the euphemism for the STD syphilis that people in the "flower district" often contracted), but I think there are also many ways this connection comes up within Apothecary Diaries on its own.
Ryan
2025-08-14 03:14:41 +0000 UTCSeems like a place she really should visit even if she doesn't want to
Alex G
2025-08-14 03:14:40 +0000 UTCTruly, the Rear Palace and the Pleasure District are more similar than they would appear. The thing I love the most about this episode is the teaching moment between Maomao and her dad. Because despite how outstanding Maomao has shown herself to be, she's not perfect, even in her field of expertise. She still has room to grow and improve as an Apothecary. I absolutely love the creativity of these murder attempts from characters(I know how that sounds). The layered drink is very impressive and outside the box thinking. Another thing about the episode that I love is how Maomao just immediately goes into serious business mode when it comes to saving lives. It's like she turned a switch and just got to work with no hesitation. The funniest scene was absolutely Maomao's easily misinterpreted description to Jinshi and him basically having his mind broken at the implications. But now, we're back to the palace... You picked up on something about the annex, right? It might come up again later. I'd consider putting a (hair)pin in it just in case it does.
TrueAuraGuardian
2025-08-14 03:09:19 +0000 UTCOczy! I have to listen for that now. Very different character it seems. Not only did she have that dark monologue but then we come back to her to get a glimpse of her staring sadly. I wonder what the real existential trigger was? Maybe worrying about the extent of the treachery? As opposed to any of the individual wrongs committed
Alex G
2025-08-14 02:57:22 +0000 UTCRandom unorganized thoughts: I also thought Maomao's monologue this episode was surprisingly and suddenly dark. Not sure what the author was going through or possibly told at the time. I enjoyed the thoughts about consumers being complicit, although I think there are obvious exceptions like monopolistic practices or health care (or in the US, health insurance). Interestingly, people in the past did actually use wheat stalks as straws. That's where the word "straw" comes from originally, and it was only much later that plastic / metal / the dreaded paper straws came about. Very nerdy of me, but the word for wheat straw is "mugiwara," which for me is now forever associated with One Piece (it's Luffy's nickname, "straw hat" in English), even though I've never actually seen the show. Last, I don't know if this adds or takes away from the experience, but I finally realized where I recognized Gaoshun's voice from: he's the same voice actor as Oczy from Orb.
Ryan
2025-08-14 02:36:21 +0000 UTCHope there's no vacation for Pantheon like the one Maomao just took tomorrow 😅
KrimzonHawka
2025-08-14 02:20:47 +0000 UTCIt's clues and mystery all the way down 😂 Haikyuu is one of those series that I thought got better and better!
Alex G
2025-08-14 02:01:57 +0000 UTCThat's a good point. Tanjiro seems a little more eager. And maybe not always doing the work that best suits him (unlike Maomao)
Alex G
2025-08-14 02:00:16 +0000 UTCWho’s more helpful to their local village, Tanjiro or Maomao? They both do everything for everyone lol.
Alter Nate
2025-08-14 01:51:46 +0000 UTCYou’re absolutely correct about these earlier episodes. While much from these one off episodes will obviously come back around later, there’s also plenty that’s just there to develop the characters, world, or generally set expectations for what’s to come. I’m coming to realize that Maomao is the whole “how did his town survive without Tanjiro” but like actually survive instead of just dealing with everyday tasks. I also love how Gyokuyo is just having the time of her life watching the Maomao/Jinshi situation unfold. On a completely unrelated note, I decided to start watching Haikyuu while on a trip last week, and now that I’m a handful of episodes in, I’m looking forward to having another series of yours to go through whenever I eventually finish it in like a year.
Oak
2025-08-14 01:51:36 +0000 UTC
